Monkeys in North Port motel room where woman's body found

NORTH PORT (FOX 13) - A woman was found dead Friday inside the same motel room where a man and two monkeys were also found.

It was just before 2 p.m. when police were called to the Budget Inn on Tamiami Trail. A woman's body was found inside a room there, along with an "incoherent" man and two caged Capuchin monkeys.

"The gentleman was a little combative," explained Josh Taylor of North Port police. "We have taken him in for questioning in hopes that he will answer some of the questions of why these folks were here, why this situation came to be."

The woman was later identified as Linda Marie Smith, 59. Police said there were no obvious signs of trauma to her body, so an autopsy will be needed to determine her cause of death.

Officers did find a note in the room, but they did not disclose its message.

Florida Fish & Wildlife agents have taken the monkeys into their care.